Eraser feeding device



June 11, 1940. FINDRA ERASER FEEDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5. 1938 FIG. "2

GEORGE. FINDRA wayam a.

ATTORN EYS Patented June 11, 1940 Q'FUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,204,035 E'RASER FEEDING DEVICE,

George Findra, New Brunswick N. J. Application January 5, 1938, Serial No. 183,525

sol i s. (Cl. 120-36):

This invention relates generally to improvements'in mechanical writing instruments and.

the like and, more especially, to improved means for adjustably holding an eraser in the end portion of a writing instrument.

. It is among the more important objects of the present invention to provide a novel means for adjustably holding and at least partially exposing an auxiliary device, for instance an eraser orthe like, in an end portion of a writing instrument such as a pencil or a pen, whereby the exposed portion of said auxiliary device can be increased or diminished to suit the needs or wishes of the user.

It is another objectof the present invention to provide a novel holding and positive feeding means positionable in an end portion of a writing instrument wherebyan auxiliary device can befadjustably supported and quickly and easily adjusted in a position adapted for use and also can: be replaced when desired.

Notable among the featuresof thedevice according to the present invention are its compactness, relative simplicity of construction, substantial freedom from parts normally subjected to wear, easy adjustability and attractive appearance.

Other objects, advantages and features of the device according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art during the course of the following description, wherein a specific embodiment of the present invention, herein illustrated, will be described, it being clearly understood however that the illustrated preferred embodiment is given solely by way of example and is non-limitative.

In the drawing: 1 i Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a writing instrument provided with eraser holding and feeding means according to the present invention; i

Fig. 2 is substantially a vertical sectional view ofthe eraser, feeding and holding parts in the device illustratedin Fig. 1; and

, Fig. 3 isan exploded perspective view of a preferred form of eraser holding and feeding means. l 1

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects, the present invention comprises a cap-like member slidable within arotatable substantially cylindrical member positioned in an end portion of a writing instrument, said member being associated whereby rotative movement of said annular member is translated into coaxial sliding movement of said cap member.

moving the member 2|] o-r dissociating the mem In order to facilitate a clear understanding of the matter of the present invention, a specific illustrated embodiment thereof will be hereinafter described.

Referring now to the drawing and especially *5 Fig. 1, a pencil or similar writing instrument generally designated at I0 is provided near an end portion thereof with an ornamental friction cap indicated by the numeral II, said cap preferably being provided'with a clip l2, substantially as shown, for the purpose of holding the writing instrument within the users pocket.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the writing instrument generally designated at h l0 includes a casing member l5 provided at an end portion thereof with writing means, in this instance a mechanical pencil unit generally designated at l6. The other, or free, end portion of said casing member 15 serves, in part at least, as a housing for the substantially cylindrical sleeve I'l' freely rotatably positioned therein, which projects outwardly therefrom, substantially asshown, and which is adapted to receive and support, on the projecting portion thereof, the cap member ll hereinbefore alluded to.

The sleeve-like member I! and its associated and cooperating members provide the novel feeding andsupporting means for auxiliary devices forming the subject matter of the present invention. The member I! is substantially cylindrical in shape, fully open on the projecting end and provided with formations on the other or inner end thereof, generally indicated at l8, which serve to at least mostly close .the end thereof. The essentially hollow, tube-like member I9 fixedly attached to and carried on said end portion [8 of the member Il, substantially extends coaxially through the casing I5 and, passing through an opening in, the member 20, engages at the projecting free end with a washer 40 I9a, abutting against a part of the opening formed in themember 20, substantially as shown, the last mentioned member being frictionally engaged with the inner surface of the casing whereby relative movement of the members l5 and 20 is at least largely precluded. It will be noted, therefore, that the member l1, though freely rotatable, is anchored within the casing l5 and cannot be moved outwardly therefrom without bers l9, I911. and 20.

In order to prevent inward movement of the member I! relativeto the casing l5, and also to accomplish other results hereinafter to be described, a substantially cylindrical member 2| is provided, adapted to be positioned circumjacent the tubular member I9, which at one end abuts against a friction reducing washer 23, positioned next to the end part I8 of the member I1, and

i which is firmly frictionally held at the other end in the constrictedportion 24 of the member 20. Accordingly, it will be noted that although the sleeve member I! can be freely rotated with respect to the casing 15, it (the said member I1) is substantially prevented from moving coaxially within the casing 15, in one direction by the member 2| abutting against the end portion I8 of. the member If and against parts of the relatively stationary member 20, and in the other direction by means including the tubular mem ber l9 and the washer lea associated therewith engaging with a portion of the member 20 substantially as hereinbefore described, Further, it will be noted, the tubular member I9 associated with the member I! is freely rotatable within the relatively stationary member 2|.

The tubular cup-likemember 25, closed at one end thereof and provided with an auxiliary device such as an eraser 26 frictionally held therein substantially as shown, is fixedly associated with a rod-like member 2'! whereby, when the member 25 is positioned within the member I! the member 21 extends through andwithin said tubular member l9, it being understood of course, that-the members 25 and 2! are .freely slidable within the members I! and HI, respectively, when so arranged. It will be noted that the member 2'! is provided with a bent end portion 28 which, when the members 25, 21, I7 and I9 are positioned as aforesaid, is adapted to project through and slide in an opening 29 formed insaid member l9. It is further to be noted that the part '28 projecting through said opening 29 is also adapted to be received in the substantially helical opening 22 formed in the relatively stationary member 2| positioned circumjacent said member 19 as hereinabove described, whereby, as the sleeve I1 is rotated alternately in diiTerent directions, reciprocating movement is imported to the member 25, thus increasing or decreasing, as the case may be, the projecting portion of the eraser or similar auxiliary device, useful in writing, 26. It will be observed that the movement of the member 26 so produced is. limitedhowever, in.anoutward direction by engagement of the projecting end portion 28 of the member 2'! with the washer 23, and in an inward direction by abutment of parts of the member 25 against the constricted portion l8 of the member H.

In operation, when it is desired to advance or feed the eraser, or the like, 26, the sleeve I1 is rotated relative to the casing l5, whereby the bent end portion 28 of the rod 21 travels along the helical opening 22 in the relatively stationary member 2! thereby causing the eraser 26 to move within and project from the sleeve l1. When it is desired to replace the eraser 2B, which is preferably frictionally held in thecup-like member 25, it is obvious thatafter removal of the used portion, a new eraser can be mounted therein merely by aligning the eraser and the opening in the member 25 and forcing the former into the latter.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof I as ex of said casing having a reduced end and spaced from said sleeve, a hollow cylindrical-member formed with a helical groove supported within said reduced end and receiving said tube-like member therein, means carried by said sleeve for supporting an eraser, and a rod-like member extending longitudinally from said means through said tube-like member and having one end laterally extended for engagement with the helical groove whereby rotation of said sleevewill cause the supported eraser to reciprocate therein.

' 2. An eraser holding device for lead pencils having a hollow casing comprising, a substantially cylindrical-shaped sleeve adapted to be positioned within one end of the casing, a tube-like member extending from one end of said sleeve, said tubelike member having a longitudinal slot in one 1 wall thereof, a substantially cylindrical-shaped member positioned in the opposite end of said casing and spaced from said sleeve, said cylindrical-shaped member being hollow and having one end thereof formed with a reduced opening, a member supported within said reduced openingand adapted to receive said'tube-like member therein, said member being formed with a helical groove, means carried by said sleeve for supporting an eraser, and a rod-like member extending longitudinally from said means and having one end laterally extended through said longitudinal slot and adapted for engagement with said helical groove, whereby rotation of said sleeve will cause the supported eraser to reciprocate therein.

3. An eraser holding device for lead pencils having ahollow .casing comprising, a substantially cylindrical-shaped sleeve adapted to be p0- sitioned within one end of said casing, said sleeve being hollow and having one end thereof par-- tially closed with a hollow tube-like member projecting therefrom, said tube-like member having a longitudinal slot formed in one wall thereof, a member having a reduced end positioned in the opposite end of said casing and spaced from said sleeve, a hollow cylindrical member supported within said reduced end and being formed with a helical groove, said tube-like member being disposed withinsaid hollow cylindrical member, an eraser holding cap slidably supported within said'sleeve and having a rod-like member extending longitudinally therefrom, the free end of said rod-like member being disposed within said lo'ngitudinal slot" and having its end bent at right angles for engagement with said helical groove,

whereby rotation of said sleeve will cause the sup-' ported eraser to reciprocate therein.

GEORGE FINDRA. 

